Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-29
The NEW YORK HERALD'S" En-
SENADA BOON.


SENADA B0OM
Some weeks since the RECORD-UNIoS
called general public attention to tn,
statements Of California correspondent
of the New York Herald, severely CRITICS
ing real estate values in Southern Califor.
MIA, with incidental comments relating tc
the Ensenada Colony in Lower California,
and declared that the correspondent refer
red to had personal interest in damaging
property values in Southern California, in
the interest of the Ensenada scheme,
where he himself owned 4 thousand acres
Of land.
Incidental TO the denunciation of this
most obvious abuse Of the privileges of a
correspondent and outrage upon respecta-
bic journalism, the RECORD UNION insti-
tuted the inquiry as to why gathering
associations were repeating these damag-
ing statements by telegraph, and said: 1t
is therefore a legitimate subject of inquiry
both on behalf of such publishers and on
behalf Of the public, and We institute that
inquiry now"
In response to this open statement
William Henry Smith, General Agent of
the Associated Press of New York, entered
his denial that the Associated Press of
New York or the Associated Press Of the
West had retransmitted the statements of
the HcraiFs correspondent, and we give
the Associations mentioned the benefit OF
the denial which has been entered by their
general agent. The California Associated
Press on its behalf, admits through its
correspondent at Washington that the
statements in question were transmitted to
the Pacific Coast, and in apology for that
act declares that it was deemed but fair to
the people of California to put them on
their guard against the statements of the
Herald correspondent. We also give the
agent of the California Associated Press
and the association he represents the bene-
fit of his explanation We also note with
pleasure that the HeralFs correspondent
has been silent since the statements of the
RECoRD-CNIoN were made public, and it
will therefore be noted that the RECORD
UNIONS object was fully and completely
accomplished. 1t also accomplished fully
its object in calling attention to the part
played by news-gathcrers in repeating the
ISLANDERS of the correspondent; and now,
having given all parties the benefit of their
explanations, and having accomplished a
signal benefit for this State, the RECORD
UNION INDUCES in no regrets and offers no
apologies.
The New York Tribune, noting and com
menting ON the editorial in question,
names Charles Nordhoff as the correspond
ent referred TO. As there has been no
denial of any part of the allegation, and
no denial on the part of Mr. Nordhoff that
he owns 4 thousand acres of land at En-
senada, it may be concluded that the allie
cations of the RECoRD-UNIoN were en-
tirolv justified by the facts, and that the
correspondent III question WAS guilty Of
the abuae, with which he stands charged.
The course Of the Herald is, however, to
be commended in susperdinS the pubIca-
ton Of Mr. NordhoG's statements; and it
Is 4 further reasonable presumption that
the HcH.d was not willing party to the
designs 81 is correspondent, bat that the
act; complained Of were m abuse of the
said correspondents privileges. The Tri-
6Wne, in quoting from the editorial alluded |
TO, quotes approvingly that portion which |
relates to the standard of town-site va,ua- |
tons. 1t saws: "Thc RECOBD-UNIoN has |
established method of determining |
whether the land values in the neighbor-
hood of large city are inflated, which is
of interest" 1t then summarizes that |
in these words: Briefly, it is |
that no valuation beyond that properly |
belonging to agricultural land ought to |
attach to outlying lots in any place where
more land is divided into town lots than
would be required for twenty persons to
the acre, for the entire population of the
town"
This rule is derived from very extern
sive inquiry and a careful observation of the
history of town-site mutations, as the
frontier Of civilization has advanced in the
United States. For illustration in the
year 1886 piece of property was sold in
the city of Keokuk, Iowa, for sixteen hun
ired dollars, which between the dates of1S50
and 1860 would have been good security at
any bank for $4,000 Keolyuk was re-
garded as the gate city of the Northwest.
1t was situated at the mouth of the Dcs
Moines river, and at the foot of the lower
rapids OF the Mississippi. The navigation
Of the Mississippi between Keokuk, ST. |
Louis, Cincinnati and New Orleans was J
practicable by 4 larger class of steamers |
than upon that part of the river living |
above that point. The lower rapids of the |
Mississippi, commencing at Keokuk. ex- |
tended twelve miles up the river. Between
that point and the upper rapids, which be-
gin Al Rock Island and Davenport, a dis
lance Of about one hundred and fifty miles |
there rs anotherspace Of theriver navigable |
by large boats, but inaccessible to such
boats by reason Of the lower rapids The
pes Moines river was navigablc to Eddy
vile, distance OF seventy-two miles above
Keokuk. The commercial advantages
of that city thus outlined created
an impression in favor of its
growth, which enabled real estate
spectators to initiate the values of prop
erty. Little or no attention, however. was
paid to the amount Of property demanded
for town site uses. As in the case of some
Of the cities of Lower California, an I'M
limited amount vas divided into town lots